LiesSample

Basic Training

A soldier never hits the battlefield without basic training – and neither should we. Our armor and weaponry are only as good as our ability to use them. What else does the Bible say about handling our sword and shield?

According to God’s word, faith is more than a shield; it’s also a compass. We not only use it as a guard against the enemy; we need it to guide us where we are to go. If we ask God not to lead us into temptation as Jesus did, we must be ready to follow His leading. Think of faith as our mission map, showing us our objective and how to navigate safely toward it. Wartime is no time for wandering. Faith must be in our hands, minds, and feet at all times.

This is one of the most important aspects of faith. It is not something we whip out when we find ourselves lost or under attack. By that time, it is often too late. Instead, it must be in our hands before the enemy strikes, and we stray off the path. How do we make faith an ever-present reality and not a last-ditch maneuver?

The answer, in large part, revolves around the second piece of our armor: our sword. The living, active Word of God that we hold in our hands – literally and figuratively – will largely determine the outcome of our battle. After all, it won Jesus His victory in the wilderness. Not just His ability to quote it but His belief in it. Jesus’ victory over temptation gives us the two-pronged approach to our ability to overcome the enemy: an understanding of God’s word and a belief in what it says.

Both understanding and faith are gifts from God, but they are not arbitrarily given. They are awarded to those who earnestly seek Him and seek to know Him. Those who seek will find, Jesus said, and the author of Hebrews reminds us that God is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Seeking Him means spending time in His word, prayer, and fellowship with like-minded believers. The activities themselves are not enough if they are not joined with a single-minded faith that seeks after Him. In other words, no matter how polished our sword may be, only those willing to take it up and use it will find the victory they desperately need.

Do we long for victory in our lives? If so, we will strive to become more adept at putting our sword and shield into practice. They are gifts from our Father waiting to be utilized in our fight against temptation. Without them, we have very little hope of survival, but when trained to use them, they can decisively alter the outcome of the war – and our very lives.

Ready for some basic training? Let’s take up our sword and shield and follow our Commanding Officer - the Author and Perfecter of faith and the living embodiment of His Word.

Prayer

Dear Lord, life can feel like a battlefield, and your word makes it clear that there are forces of evil that would seek to take me down in the midst of it. Thank you for not leaving me to wander this warzone alone and unprotected. Thank you for equipping me with a shield and sword to help me survive – and even thrive – as the war around me (and within me) rages on. May I, through time, practice, and the guidance of your Holy Spirit, learn how to use your shield and sword more and more effectively. Help me avoid the devil’s schemes in my life and point others toward grace and truth in theirs. In the name of Jesus, Amen.